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Former WWE writers reveal McMahon/Heyman relationship and why Heyman departed in 2006

9K views 45 replies 41 participants last post by  Defei 
#1 ·
http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_65915.shtml

The behind-the-scenes dynamic between WWE head Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman was amplified and presented on television this week when McMahon and Heyman had a backstage promo exchange during Monday's Raw. The exchange included the classic retort to anything Heyman says that he doesn't know the difference between lies and the truth, but also captured Heyman's ability to present ideas to McMahon. Whether McMahon uses the ideas is another story.

During Friday's PWTorch Livecast, former WWE Creative writers Seth Mates and Andrew Goldstein both painted a picture of McMahon loathing Heyman, but also seeing him as good for business. McMahon did not want to use Heyman's idea to push C.M. Punk as the next big star in 2006, which contributed to Heyman leaving WWE, but he also recognized that Heyman would be good for business to associate with Punk in 2012.

Mates and Goldstein, drawing from their time in the trenches in WWE, noted the dynamic between McMahon and Heyman extends to Stephanie McMahon and Triple H, who also cannot stand Heyman, but view him as useful as a TV character. Using his ideas is another story, which is one of several reasons why Heyman will likely never be a full-time member of the Creative team again.

"The three of them cannot stand Paul Heyman," said former writer Andrew Goldstein, who was in WWE during Heyman's final days in 2006. "They sit around and they joke about Paul Heyman - about him sweating and his suits are cheap and he showed up in a rented, broken-down limo the first day he signed a contract to make himself look like a big deal, and they make fun of his ideas and they do imitations of him. But, I think all three of them are extremely jealous of his brain."

Continuing the theme of behind-the-scenes pushed to in-front-of-the-cameras, Goldstein said he's sure there were shoot elements when Stephanie returned to TV in July and slapped Heyman across the face while Hunter stood in the ring. "I know how real that was - how much enjoyment Stephanie got from actually getting to do that," said Goldstein.

In addition to Heyman's political style, Heyman's pattern of pitching new ideas seems to be one of the main points of contention between Heyman and the McMahons. Whereas McMahon sticks to what works and "gets every ounce out of it," as Mates said, Heyman is always looking for "the next big thing."

Mates recalled how this came into play at Summerslam 2002 when WWE focused heavily on The Rock and Brock Lesnar in training videos to build toward the PPV.

"I'll never forget," Mates said. "Paul said to Vince, 'Vince, those vignettes changed our business.' Paul understood that the next big boom in terms of competition was going to be legitimate fighting combat and how that comes together. Paul had touched on the UFC boom before it ever happened. We ran those vignettes up to Summerslam and they went over really well, and by the next month, we're back to wrestling storylines again. I'm not saying Vince should have fundamentally changed things. But, that's Paul's strength. Paul is that contrary voice screaming that the emperor is naked when everyone else knows that the secret to their own job stability is to pretend that the emperor's clothes are beautiful."

Goldstein echoed Mates's story recalling the final blow-up between Heyman and the McMahons at the December to Dismember PPV in December 2005. "Paul was adamant," Goldstein said. "We have to have Punk go over the Big Show and put the ECW Title on this guy and let's ride him. And, Vince, whether it was a good idea (or not), because it came from Paul, he said, 'Oh no. Big Show. Big Show. Big Show. (Bobby) Lashley. I'm going to make this my own. Paul, shut up."

What brought Heyman back to WWE was Brock Lesnar, and WWE realizing (too late) that Lesnar needed a mouthpiece. Now, Heyman is able to contribute ideas again, albeit not in a formal setting. Whether it works out in the long-term between the Heyman Camp, which also includes current WWE champion C.M. Punk, and the McMahon Trio remains to be seen.

"Paul doesn't care what anybody thinks of him, but the three of them can't stand Paul," said Goldstein. "But, I will give Vince credit to this - he will do whatever is right for business."
 
#37 · (Edited)
Re: Former WWE writers reveal McMahon/Heyman relationship and why Heyman departed in

Vince Mcmahon is the George Lucas of wrestling. He sits behind past glories and claims them for his own. The attitude era was not Vince's idea. Mick Foley once stated that in 1996/7 Vince told everyone at WWE that he wasn't up to date with pop culture and so they should make their own gimmicks and characters. He got the attitude era from ECW.

Vince doesn't know what he's doing anymore. Ratings have plummeted in the past decade and all because Vince is covering everyone mouth. December to Dissmember 06 showed how out of touch he was. Heyman new that Bobby Lashley was not an ECW archetype. He was a glorified bodybuilder- the exact opposite of what ECW signified.
 
#38 ·
Re: Former WWE writers reveal McMahon/Heyman relationship and why Heyman departed in

It makes a lot of sense that Step, Triple H and Vince are jealous of Heyman. Guy till this date knows what to do and right now its time to transform the product a bit evolve it. I am glad the guy is back Vince is really out of touch and you can't blame him he is getting older when people get older they cant think the same. Paul on the other hand is still young and the WWE should take advantage of him because sooner or later Heyman is also going to get out of touch believe me. I hope the McMahonfamily forgets there ego realizes what great asset Heyman is and gives him more creative control. Also I respect Heyman you see him hes not someone that needs to be a $1,000 suit all he needs is a $200 dollar suit and he is fine.
 
#39 ·
Re: Former WWE writers reveal McMahon/Heyman relationship and why Heyman departed in

It's always a shame Heyman never did get a billionaire backer because he certainly wouldn't of been out of business with ECW. Heyman is one of the best business minds out there and it's a shame he hasn't got a creative seat in the WWE because you can bet your ass he'd be making the story lines better.
 
#42 ·
Re: Former WWE writers reveal McMahon/Heyman relationship and why Heyman departed in

comes as no suprise steph and vince,have a big ego kind of suprised about triple h though for some reason

they really did and still are shooting them self in the foot by not having heyman on creative cause i guarantee if he was the company wouldnt be doing as shit as it is ATM ,huge waste to not have one of the smartest guys in the business really being utilised
 
#44 ·
Re: Former WWE writers reveal McMahon/Heyman relationship and why Heyman departed in

paul is a great booker, but i wouldnt put him in charge of fiancee or anything major, hes a great writer and mind for the bussiness but you can tell he isnt a corporate man, which im glad because heyman is top 3 of all time in my mind.
 
#45 ·
Re: Former WWE writers reveal McMahon/Heyman relationship and why Heyman departed in

They are stupid tho when it comes to writing.

Somebody remind them who was a SD writer when they created their last mega draw & was outpopping everyone despite being on the B-Show.

Johnny Boy.
 
#46 ·
Re: Former WWE writers reveal McMahon/Heyman relationship and why Heyman departed in

LOL @ Andrew Goldstein a "former writer", he never was. He worked for WWE media relations.

Heyman has himself said the only problem he ever had with stephanie was during creative process, it has never been personal between the two. HHH and Heyman have always been close since 2002.
 
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